FOIA document review specialist, 20 plus years of legal/medical doc re

James A. Markey

**** ****** *****

Kensington, Maryland 20895

301-***-**** (H) 301-***-**** (C)

*********@*****.***

FOIA document review specialist. Highly accomplished former Administrative Law Judge/Attorney with over 24 Years of experience specifically in the areas of Veterans and Administrative Law. Looking to apply knowledge of government regulations, laws, legal codes and precedents.

AREAS of EXPERTISE

•Veterans Affair (VA) Law

•Military Law

•Legal Writing & Research

•Legal Document Review (to include for FOIA requests)

•Mentoring/Leadership

•Medical Terms and Literature

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

WITS Solutions Inc. June 2019 - Present

Ashburn, VA

FOIA Review Specialist

•Provide Subject Matter Expert advice and knowledge pertaining to redacting information, exemptions and enforcing the law. Research FOIA issues and input data into the Electronic FOIA Tracking System (EFTS).

•Draft, edit, and provide formal responses to requesters detailing the FOIA review and release determination. Conduct line-by-line examination to identity and protect privileged information and redact documents in accordance with agency FOIA protocols which include annotating appropriate FOIA exemptions on records. Demonstrate expert knowledge of the application of FOIA exemptions (b) (5), (6), and (7).

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs November 1995 – November 2017

Washington, DC

Veterans Law Judge December 2007 – November 2017

•Review draft appellate decisions and review veterans’ claims files on appeal from VA regional office decisions regarding pension and education benefits, overpayments, benefits for diseases and disabilities resulting from active service, among other things. Decisions on these matters involve a thorough review of medical and service department records, and the application of VA law and regulations.

•Managed/supervised anywhere from 18 attorneys assigned to write these draft decisions for my signature. They often seek my guidance while preparing these decisions and we discuss most cases in detail.

•Mentored junior counsel and helped senior counsel seeking promotion.

•Signed over 7000 decisions as a VLJ. Also conducted hearings with Veterans (and their representatives).

Attorney-Advisor (Senior Counsel) October 2005 – December 2007

Mentored new counsel; provided expert legal advice to counsel; reviewed draft decisions submitted by counsel for my signature as Acting Veterans Law Judge; Periodically served as Acting Board Member/Veterans Law Judge; participated in interviews of potential Board Attorneys; assisted in the distribution of cases and other management activities; reviewed and drafted decisions on claims involving complex fact patterns and legal issues.

Special Counsel to the Senior Deputy Vice Chairman January 2004 – October 2005

Served a 1-year rotation in appellate Quality Review Team: Work included the review of selected final Board decisions to ensure quality of work product; correcting findings of fact, conclusions of law, reasons and bases, due process, and format; provided guidance and tips to Board attorneys and Veterans Law Judges in this regard.

Provided required introductory training to new attorneys at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals - Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) 101.

Attorney-Advisor November 1995 – January 2004

Reviewed veterans’ claims files on appeal form VA regional office decisions regarding pension and education benefits, benefits for diseases and disabilities resulting from active service; draft appellate decisions on these matters which involves a thorough review of medical and service department records, and the application of VA law and regulations; preparation of claims files for review by the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Periodically served as Acting Board Member/Veterans Law Judge

Previous Positions

Circuit Court for Charles County August 1993 – November 1995

Law Clerk for the Honorable Richard J. Clark

Reviewed case files (motions, etc.) on a daily basis; assisted in the research and drafting of Court Opinions; assisted in the management of the daily case flow in the courtroom

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Juris Doctorate Awarded 1993 Widener University School of Law

Admitted to the Maryland State Bar, December 1994

Admitted to the Pennsylvania State Bar, December 1994

Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice University of Maryland, 1989

REFERENCES

Furnished Upon Request.

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